Work-holding clamp



Sept. 16, 1924.

W. E. SIMPSON WORK HOLDING CLAMP Filed Dec. 5, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 1W179, d'o-ru awnings Sept. 16 1924.

1,508,729 W. E. SIMPSON worm HOLDING CLAMP Filed Dec. 5, 1919 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 16 1924. 1,508,729

W. E. SIMPSON WORK HOLDING CLAMP Filed Dec. 5, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

auowntoz Queuin Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

UNHT STATES PATEN- WILLIAM E. snvrrson, or DETROIT, IoIIIe-An,.essrenoii r rAmvrnnrnnn ooI IreiIY, or rnraorr, MICHIGAN, AoonronA'rIon or MICHIGAN.

WORK-HOLDING- CLAMP.

Application filed December 5, 1919. Serial No. 342,749.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SIMrsoN,

a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Detroit,in the coun- 'ty of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Vork-I-Iolding Clamps, of which thefollowing is a specification,reference being had therein to theaccompanying draw- Ings.

The invention relates to work-holding clamps, being more particularlydesigned for use on traveling conveyors of work as sembling machines. Itis the object of the invention to provide a rigid and powerful clamp orwork holder which is adapted to receive and securely hold one element ofthe assembly during the operations of securing thereto the cooperatingelements. Itis a further object to obtain a construction in which thework may be fclamped and released by a simple lever movement'and onewhich permits of automatic release by a stop engaging the lever. Theinvention therefore consists in the novel construction as hereinafterset forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the work clamp showing in dotted linesone element of an axle assembly in engagement therewith; I

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the clamp;

Figure 3 is a plan View.

In the assembling of structures, such for instance as driving axles formotor vehicles, it is necessary to provide arigid and powerful clamp forholding the element to which the other elements are secured.Furthermore, where the clamp or work-holder is mounted on a continuouslymoving conveyor, it is desirable that the actuating mechanism should beone easily manipulated and capable of automatic release. Thus a screwclamp is unsuited for this purpose and many other usual actuatingdevices are either too slow in manipulation or are lacking in power. Itis also necessary for certain uses, such as the holding of drive axleassemblies, that the clamp should be capable ance for receiving the workand at the same time to exert a powerful clamping pressure ing movementis accomplished by a trianguof considerable movement to provide clear-V.

'lar eccentric in cooperation with-a pivot clamping jaw. This mechanicalmovement provides; first, for a quick operation with sufiicientamplitude of movement for free engagement of the work; second, apowerful clamping-of the work; third, a frictional holding of the clampwhich cannot be ac cidentally released; fourth, a lever actuat 111gmember which clamps when moved in the direction of travel and may beautomatically released by contact with a stop.

In detaihA is a bed member having bearmg's B for axles C on which. aremounted wheels D for engaging the track. E is a block mounted upon thebed and secured thereto by clamping bolts F or other suitable means. IThe upper portion of the block E is transversely recessed to receive ajaw member Gr whlch as shownhas a concave.

;nected' to the block E by the pin I and above this pivot bearing saidjaw member is-transverselyrecessedto receive a clamping jaw J K isalaterally-extending arm portion of the member Hformed at its inner endwith a longitudinally extending slot L as specifically shown the memberII is bifurcated to provide two of said arms K spaced from each other.block secured to the bed A and arranged between the arms K. N is a rockshaft :journaled in the block M and centrally pro Vided with a lever arm0, while at opposite ends said. shaft is provided with triangulareccentricsP. These eccentrics are so formed as to engage thelongitudinal slots L and in the rocking movement of the lever O to causea swingingmovement of the jaw member H. The eccentrics P are formed witharcuate surfaces concentric, respectively, with the several apexes of anequi-lateral triangle and the radius of each arc is equal tothe width ofthe slot L. Therefore, during the rocking movement of the shaft Ncontact is maintained between the eccentric and the arm K in allpositions of adjustment. Furthermore the eccentrics P are so formed thatone ofthe arcuate surfaces P is drawn from a center'slightlyeccentric'to the axis of the shaft N, so that when this surface is inengagement with the side of the slot L, a very gradual and powerfulmovement will be imparted to the arm K.

M is a bearing" Also the surface P is within the angle of friction inits engagement with the side of the slot L and therefore willfri-ctionally lock at each point of adjustment.

In operation, the lever O initially stands in substantially horizontalposition and in this position the triangular eccentric 'P is below theaxis of the shaft N, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure'2r Themovable jaw H is therefore held in the position shown in dottedlines,where it is retracted to receive the work such as the axle housingsection Q. If the lever O is then thrown upward, the first portion ofits movement will impart a quick rocking movement to the arm K carryingthe jaw member J into close proximity to the work to be clamped.Before,.however, pressure is applied to the work the eccentric Phas acylindrical portion where thefa'ce'P thereof is in contact with theupper edge L of the slot L. The V jaw member, a movable jaw membervhaving character of movement will then be altered to a slow, powerfuloperation furnishing the necessary pressure to securely clamp the work.When the jaws are in full clamping engagement, they will beautomatically locked as the angle of the surface P to the surface L iswithin the angle of friction. To release the clamp the lever is throwndown from a vertical to a horizontal position and this canbeautomatically accomplished by engagement with a stop during thecontinued travel of the conveyer.

VVhat I claim a-srmyinventi'on is :7

1. Awork clamp'comprising a stationary jaw memberja movable 'jawmemberpivotally connected thereto, a rock shaft, and a cam on said rock shafteccentric to the axis thereof and engaging said movable jaw member, saidcam having a portion for imparting a quick movement of relatively thesame direction.

x 2. A work clamp comprising a stationary jaw member, a movable jawmember pivotally secured thereto,-a rock shaft, a trian- 'gulareccentric on said rock shaft having arcuate races, one of sald facesbeing drawn from a center widely spaced from the axis of. said rockshaft to impart a quick movement of large amplitude and another of saidarcuate surfaces being drawn from a center but slightly eccentric to theaxis of the shaft to impart a slow powerful movement in the samedirection.

shaft journaled in a bearing between the furcations of said movable awmember, triangular'eccentrics at opposite ends of said rock shaft forengaging the slotted hearings in said furcations, and a centrallyarranged lever arm for rocking said shaft.

4. A work clamp comprlslng a stationary a slot and cam engaging in theslot of said novable aw member, said cam having arcuate portions forimparting to said movable direction, the arcuate portionsfbeing'concentric with the apices of an equi-lateral triangle and the radiusofeach are being equal to the width of'the slot. .1

5. A work clamp'comprisinga stationary jaw member, a 'movable'jaw memberpivotally secured thereto and atriangular eccentric engageable with saidmovable jaw memher, said eccentric having a portion for imparting tosaid movable jaw member a quick movement of relatively great amplitude,and a succeeding portion for imparting to said movable jaw.member a slowpowerful movement of slight amplitude in the same direction, saidportionshaving the same radius.

In testimony nature.v

whereof I V aflix my sig- WILLIAM E. snurson.

